Breakers get hot in Austin, punch first Super Sunday ticket
Austin, TX. The Bay Area Breakers brought the heat to the Pickle Ranch — and the Texas weather brought it right back. Temperatures pushed into the 90s with humidity to match, a couple of short rain delays interrupted play, and through it all the Breakers grinded out a 2-3 group-stage record to finish 3rd in their pool and reach their first Super Sunday of the 2026 season.
The wait on Saturday night
The Breakers' Super Sunday fate didn't get decided on their own court. After finishing pool play, Bay Area had to wait through the very last match of the day — the Dallas Flash vs. the New Jersey 5s — to see if the bracket would break our way. It came down to a thriller, with the 5s fighting off a match point in the Dreambreaker before knocking off Dallas to send the Breakers through.
How we got the head-to-head
The Breakers earned the 3rd seed in the pool the hard way. A clinical 4-0 sweep of the Atlanta Bouncers set the tone, followed by a 3-1 win over the Florida Smash that ultimately delivered the head-to-head tiebreaker for third place. Two complete, four-line team performances when the squad needed them most.
Super Sunday vs. Miami
On Sunday, the Breakers faced the Miami Pickleball Club in the quarterfinal round and fell short of advancing — but reaching the championship bracket for the first time this year is a real step forward for this group.
Where we stand
Finishing 6th at the event earned the Breakers 8 standings points, lifting the season total to 10 points — currently tied for 12th and very much still in the hunt for a playoff berth. The team now takes a week off before heading east for the next event in New York City.
Jr. MLP: U18 and U16 take the top spot
Also in Austin, the Breakers' Junior MLP teams opened their seasons — and both stormed out of the gate at the top of the standings.
The U18 team went a perfect 4-0 on the weekend, capped by an unforgettable Dreambreaker against the Orlando Squeeze. Down 0-10, the squad clawed all the way back to win it 23-21 — exactly the kind of finish that announces a team to the league.
The U16 team wasn't far behind, going 3-1 to also sit atop the standings after the opening event.
Around the league: Tyra Black traded to Columbus
In other news, the Dallas Flash traded Tyra Black to the Columbus Sliders for Danni-Elle Townsend and cash considerations. With Dallas falling outside the playoff picture, the Flash are reshuffling to try to climb back in. Columbus, meanwhile, reunites Tyra with her long-time PPA partner Parris Todd as the Sliders look to stay in championship contention — a chase that's becoming tougher by the week as the New Jersey 5s and LA Mad Drops continue to dominate the early season.
Next up: New York City
One week off, then the tour heads to the bright lights of NYC. The Breakers are getting hot at the right time. Ride the Tide.
Thank you to our sponsors
None of this is possible without the partners who power the Breakers. Huge thanks to:
- Home Loan Studio, our title sponsor
- Joola
Ride the Tide.
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